The Wild High Places
Raised in his foster father’s household of the warrior Rajput caste on the western edge of the early British Raj, young Jefferji Tamisen has been a sacred dancer for the god Sri Krsna his whole life. One day, an old friend of the father he never met arrives to propose a quest: a journey into the high mountains of the Pamir range beyond Peshawar in pursuit of treasure. Under the impression that he might be exiled from the household due to English ancestry, Jefferji accepts the offer. So begins a journey of both deep camaraderie and great treachery, with lyric beauty and yet dashes of humor.
Zarabeth Abbey’s debut historical adventure, The Wild High Places is an adventure novel and a subtle male coming-of-age novel in one. As such, it shows a deep understanding of male relationships—friendships, mentorships, sidekicks, and one case of villainous seething resentment weaving the men together. Through it all runs Jefferji’s relationship with his Beloved, the god Krsna. Abbey depicts the spiritual dimension of Jefferji wonderfully. In such a male-dominated society, her handling of the novel’s women finds a way to be multifaceted and human, as well. Abbey also handles the horse-centric nature of this setting by making the horses into expressive supporting characters.
Anyone who likes historical adventure, coming of age stories, and stories with a spiritual element will love The Wild High Places. Warnings for violence and some vivid, gory description, as well as poetically rendered sexual content.
